Arsenal start the defence of their Premier League ******* le on Friday night, and the expectation is obvious. They have already brushed aside Manchester City in the Community Shield, winning 3-0 in Cardiff, and now they open at home against promoted Coventry. Same sky-blue shirts, very different level of threat.
Mikel Arteta's side go into the new campaign as favourites for good reason. They won the league by seven points last season, ended a 22-year wait for the ******* le, and reached the Champions League final. The immediate task is simpler, start fast, stay in control, and avoid handing a newly promoted team encouragement.
Coventry arrive with a different kind of momentum. Frank Lampard guided them back to the top flight after a 25-year absence, and they did it emphatically. While ******* nal finished seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, Coventry won the Championship with 95 points, nine ahead of Ipswich. Promotion earned them a place here, now comes the difficult part.
Arsenal still have defensive issues to manage. William Saliba is set for a lengthy spell out, while Jurrien Timber remains unavailable with a groin problem. That leaves Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera continuing in the back line, with Ezri Konsa still waiting to complete his £51million move from Aston Villa.
There should also be changes from the side that beat City. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice both began on the bench in that 3-0 win, but are expected to return to the starting XI here. That matters. ******* nal are a different side when both play from the first whistle, one gives them incision, the other gives them authority.
#different #premier
Mikel Arteta's side go into the new campaign as favourites for good reason. They won the league by seven points last season, ended a 22-year wait for the ******* le, and reached the Champions League final. The immediate task is simpler, start fast, stay in control, and avoid handing a newly promoted team encouragement.
Coventry arrive with a different kind of momentum. Frank Lampard guided them back to the top flight after a 25-year absence, and they did it emphatically. While ******* nal finished seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, Coventry won the Championship with 95 points, nine ahead of Ipswich. Promotion earned them a place here, now comes the difficult part.
Arsenal still have defensive issues to manage. William Saliba is set for a lengthy spell out, while Jurrien Timber remains unavailable with a groin problem. That leaves Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera continuing in the back line, with Ezri Konsa still waiting to complete his £51million move from Aston Villa.
There should also be changes from the side that beat City. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice both began on the bench in that 3-0 win, but are expected to return to the starting XI here. That matters. ******* nal are a different side when both play from the first whistle, one gives them incision, the other gives them authority.
#different #premier
15 hours ago
